Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-19
THE BEACH At LIDO.
A POPULAR SUNDAY SEASIDE RE-
SORT OF THE VENETlANS.

Music, Wine and o Dip in Old Ocean
Voices of Peasants and Gondoliers-
| Pretty Girls in the Water-Gondolas
and Steamers.
/ find Venice far more fascinating than
Flyence It is a relief to be free from the
noisy streets, with their harsh sounding ven
ders and loud braying donkeys, and the all
penetrating lime dust, and gently TO float
past palaces and picturesque houses, half
reclining in gondola, propelled by the strong
unseen arm behind one. find here plenty
of amusement in studying these people, who
are seen to advantage when unrestrainedly
enjoying themselves.
Sunday is the great day for an excursion to
the Lido, strip Of sandy beach On the Adri-
attic, having a music pavilion and bathing
houses, built close TO that tranquil little sea.
We take small steamer near the Bridge OF
Signs. and in quarter Of an Pour Land on
the island of Lido where tram car, drawn
by two horses the only ones 70 be found SO
near Venicel, awaits US to take Us g. short dis
lance, under a double row of trees, TO the
bathing establishments. On the steamer we
notice an instance of the politeness Of the
natives The boat is crowded, for it is q
lovely day. and many have to stand. peas
ant woman neatly attifed and looking quite
pretty with her black veil artistically draped
over her black hair, offers her place TO We
netian lady who, with her husband, is going
to pass the lovely afternoon by the sea. She
accepts the seat with such pretty bow and
sweet ''grazie that it makes one wish he had
place to offer to some one, if only for the
pleasure of being thanked In such a charm
ing voice. There was no need of the peasant
woman Offering her seat to the lady, for the
latter was equally able to stand, but 1t was
an act of pure politeness, or possibly OF def
erence to her social superior.
UNMUsICAL LANGUAGE.
The voices of the peasants and gondoliers
that one hears constantly are not pleasant,
and the Italian language as spoken by them
is not musical The conversation Of the gon-
doIiers resembles somewhat the jargon one
hears in Chinatown, though it is not quite so
disagreeable to the ear. 1t is only the culti-
waited people who sneak Italian unsteady
In making the regular tour through Italy
little Italian is heard, except on the streets,
for the hotels are full of English and Ameri-
cans, and in visiting churches. art galleries,
red covered guido books. French is univer-
sally spoken i'll the hotels and principal stores,
as well as English IN all the large cities: so
one really does not need TO know Italian in
order to travel the beaten track in Italy
The fussy little steamer whistles shrilly,
awakening the horses on shore from their at
ternOon nap. The company of happy natives
FIJI the two open cars and are soon transported
to the pavilion, where a band of excellent
musicians vie with the ever restless sea in
making sweet sounds, and one hardly knows
which TO admire more, the lovely selections
from Verdi OF the soothing sound of the waves
slowly beating their eternal requiem on the
sands at our feet.
The seats i'll tide cafe are nearly all taken
and the natives are listening to the music
and slipping their wine. There are few Eng
Ish or Americans present, for in general it is
not considered proper by them to pass the
Sabbath in quiet enjoyment at the Lido, but
the natives see no objection to doing so after
having attended church in the morning.
The spectator sees a number of very pretty
girls among the Venetians, some with large
blue eyes and beautiful Titan hair, which ia
the sunlight resembles molten gold, and
others with raven locks and with eyes that
look like black, shining beads They know
how to art<tically drape their faces with
their black lace wells, thus enhancing the fine
effect OF their clear cut features, lne eyes
and lovely hair. Unfortunately, they often
spoil it all by too much rouge and powder.
SPORTING IN THE WATER
A number of Venetian bellies are sporting
in the warm salt water, which already has
attained temperature of seventy degrees,
while their friends look odmiringly on from
the PAVILION, and two boatmen in their gon-
doia, with life preservers, watch to see that
they do not venture out beyond the ropes, and
are ready to lend assistance if necessary. At
o'clock the band finishes the last piece on
the programme and nearly ali return to
Venice, which, at that hour and seen FROM
e distance, looks indeed like fairy city.
For three years past the Grand canal has
been disturbed by noisy little steamers, which
carry passengers for any distance On il for
two sous. They not only interfere with tho
trade of the gondoliers, but by the waves
they make are slowly undermining the foun-
dations of the houses. Nevertheless the gon-
dolas still float along the Grand canal, for
every one prefers them to the steamers, except
those who are IN hurry ana must reach their
destination quickly.
The gondoias and steamers well personify
the past and present respectively. The for
mer calmly and slowly moving along, re-
CARELESS Of time as If life We're a dream and
there were no noed of haste. The motion Is
much less jerky than in a rowboat and more
agreeable than T. carriage. The speed is not
great, but, then, why need we always rush
along? The steameTs-those modern time
saving sporters-hurry on With much
putting and noise from station 20 station,
leaving long Hne Of smashing waves behind,
which wake the gondolier from his reverie
ana make his boat rock uRduly, reminding
him that this is no age for dreams, but that
sc must b. up and doing if be does not wish
to be left far behind by modern progress
Cor. San Francisco Chronicle
He wanted Some of 1t.
A story il told OF Dutchman that owned
a 6alky horse One day when be was in !.
very great hurry TIE nag took a notion to